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Sen. Barack Obama and top campaign aides were on Capitol Hill on Tuesday as part of a full-scale offensive to win over the hearts and minds of those who supported Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Clinton herself was nowhere to be found.

Obama met Tuesday night with members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, many of whom had long and friendly relationships with the Clintons. On Thursday, he’ll meet with members of the Congressional Black Caucus, one-third of whom backed Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primary. More meetings with more Democratic groups are also on the schedule.

“We want to work closely with every single senator in there,” Axelrod told reporters after his lunch with the Democratic Caucus. “We want to have a dialogue. We don’t consider ourselves to be the repository of all wisdom.”

Axelrod would not elaborate on the specifics of the discussion he had with the senators, but longtime Obama supporter Sen. Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.) told reporters that the conversation focused on “what we’ve been through and what we’re about to face.”

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said that Axelrod had been “extremely positive” about Clinton, but the junior senator from New York didn’t hear Axelrod’s words because she didn’t attend the lunch.

“Sen. Clinton took some well deserved R & R with her family last week, and she’ll be back here before you know it,” said Philippe Reines, Clinton’s spokesman. “In the meantime, she continues to work for New York and America, and she’ll be fighting harder than ever for the issues she has throughout her public life.”

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At the offices of the Democratic National Committee on Tuesday evening, Obama and leaders of his Latino outreach effort met with a group that included Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) and Reps. Joe Baca (D-Calif.), Silvestre Reyes (D-Texas), Xavier Becerra (D-Calif.), John T. Salazar (D-Colo.) and Linda T. Sanchez (D-Calif.).

Obama told reporters after the meeting that he had “a terrific conversation” with the CHC members. “We’re all excited about the prospects of victory in November. We’ll be unified going forward.”

Rep. Jim Costa (D-Calif.) said the CHC group talked to Obama about courting the Hispanic vote and Clinton’s role in the campaign.

“She’s going to be an important part of his strategy” in winning the Hispanic vote, Costa said.

Becerra said that Obama said Clinton “wants to be enthusiastically out there” in the Hispanic communities.

Throughout the day Tuesday, Democratic lawmakers said that Obama is already making substantial gains in winning over lawmakers who once supported Clinton. “We are all supporting Obama 1,000 percent,” said Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), who supported Clinton during the primaries. “We’re sending a very strong message that we are unified in supporting him.”

Stabenow said that the Democratic women who once supported Clinton are “going to coalesce behind Sen. Obama” and that Clinton herself is “100 percent with us.”

Stabenow was one of 10 female Democratic senators who gathered at a news conference Tuesday for a show of unity and support for Obama’s message of change.

“During the primary, we had different favorite candidates,” said Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), a Clinton supporter and the dean of the Senate Democratic women. “But now we’ve come together to offer a checklist of change.”

The checklist included keeping jobs in the United States, ensuring that women receive equal pay for equal work and providing affordable health care.

“This is a way to show that — whether you were for Hillary or whether you were for Barack — that we’ve come together on this checklist for change,” Mikulski added. “It’s all part of the momentum. ... We are turning a page. We want change.”

Clinton was the only female Democratic senator who didn’t appear at the event. Mikulski said Clinton “will be joining us later this summer.”

“Democrats are being brought together by a desire for change,” added Sen. Mary L. Landrieu (D-La.) “Of course, there is a lot of disappointment, but it’s very much on the surface. We’re united on the issues.”

Asked if the Democratic Party was in the process of coming together, Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.) replied: “It’s together. I hate to burst your bubble. If [Obama] doesn’t do a single thing right between now and the convention, 95 percent of the party will be behind him.”

The democrats will unite to vote Obama because McCain is just a substitute for the continuation of Bush's failed policies. Some of the Hillary's supporters that are apparently now supporting McCain are GOP trouble makers and the others are angry, give them time to get over the disappointment of their loss after a long primary. No right thinking woman would support someone like McCain who is anti-woman. Neocon, get real with your stupid tagline. The Bush foreign policies that John McCain would continue are the reason people are less safe all over the world. By saying the war against Jihad, you are already showing your ignorance on what these wars are all about. If you are really that interested in Obama's stance on issues, click on the issues link on his website attached below. Check out his blueprint on change, stance on immigration, environment, social security etc. http://www.barackobama.com/iss...

Neocon, get real with your stupid tagline. The Bush foreign policies that John McCain would continue are the reason people are less safe all over the world. By saying the war against Jihad, you are already showing your ignorance on what these wars are all about.

Linda,

Jihad means holly war and it has been declared against all infidels by the Radical Islamic Extremist's

and the war in the ME is a war against the Jihadist's

Obama is an empty suit who refuses to answer questions and is afraid to face the people and answer them

he will not win in Nov,

many of Clinton's votes in the primaries were votes against Obama, not for her

all

TeamPolitico: Apr. 13, 2008 - 8:46 AM EST

Hillary and Bill Clinton both devoutly believe that Obama’s likely victory is a disaster-in-waiting. Naive Democrats just don’t see it....pro-Obama press corps, in their view, won’t tell the story. Obama has serious problems with Jewish voters (goodbye Florida), working-class whites (goodbye Ohio) and Hispanics (goodbye, New Mexico).Republicans will also ruthlessly exploit openings that come with Obama’s radioactive personal associations, his liberal ideology,

Obama's William Ayers ,Rev. Wright, his wife's "never been proud", lapel pin comments, and no hand on his heart during the national anthem makes him look unpatriotic .. Obama's remarks about small town America makes him look like a snob .. Obama's 'signed' pledge to promise to run on public funds call into question his honesty . .Obama's is running on cut n run, and surrender to the car bomber . Sure we are all tired of the war, but Americans have never voted for defeat in any war and will not do so this yr .

Obama's campaign is to blame for vetoing redo's in FL and MI . The election will come down to FL, OH, PA, MI, MO, VA, and the other small swing states NH, NM, and NV .

Obama can not keep the 2000 or 2004 status quo, he has to turn red states blue !! .

McCain will cut into the Hispanic, Jew, blue collar and elderly vote, .

Neocon, I'm assuming you mean Holy war and not Holly? Just confused. BTW, have you checked out the links on Obama issues seeing as you are so interested in asking your 33 questions and continue to ask them in other blogs? http://www.barackobama.com/iss...

I find it so funny when people list their objections to Obama like you've done as they are really scraping the barrel.

Ayers - non story. So what if Obama and other GOP served on board a charity with a Chicago professor?

Rev Wright - ex pastor, denounced by Obama - non story

Michelle said she was REALLY proud of her country for political activism, something McCain agreed with and defended by Laura Bush and if we want to talk about wives, Cindy, stole drugs from her own charity, stole a married man from a disabled wife who stood by him whilst he was a POW, Cindy allows her husband to call her a c**t? Should I go on?

AgnosticNeocon: Why do you have to make up lies about what Obama said? There is plenty in his record you disagree with and plenty in his policies you disagree with. You further undermine the entire shaky GOP enterprise by your Bush-like affinity for a self-created fantasy over the reality. At this point in time, more than policy, American's disgust with Republican phony BS, fantasy-based pronouncements, and gross incompetence clearly trumps any minor imperfections of Sen. Obama!

McCain is an Old Man with too many "Senior Moments" even for seniors. Remember that Bob Dole was a senior but did not come close to getting the senior vote. Old people have the wisdom to know that the Presidency is not a job for a foolish old man. Even if he is a genuine patriot, he just doesn't have the stamina for the job. Not to mention that his talk of privitizing Social Security is a sure loser with the elderly. McCain should be thinking about a nursing home, not higher office.

TO LIND LONDON: "The democrats will unite to vote Obama because McCain is just a substitute for the continuation of Bush's failed policies. Some of the Hillary's supporters that are apparently now supporting McCain" I am from NE PA. We white folks here ARE NOT voting for Obama in anyway....we do not trust him, and his snotty acting wife will NEVER be our first lady!! We are just not voting!! Hillary was treated wrong, as we woman usually are.... so personally I could care less who is our President, the title has been ruined. Believe me, PA is important!!

“One way or the other, we are determined to deny Iraq the capacity to develop weapons of mass destruction and the missiles to deliver them. That is our bottom line.”

- President Clinton, Feb. 4, 1998, at the Pentagon

“If Saddam rejects peace and we have to use force, our purpose is clear. We want to seriously diminish the threat posed by Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction program.”

- President Clinton, Feb. 17, 1998, following a Pentagon briefing

“Iraq is a long way from USA but, what happens there matters a great deal here. For the risks that the leaders of a rogue state will use nuclear, chemical or biological weapons against us or our allies is the greatest security threat we face.”

“There has never been an embargo against food and medicine. It’s just that Hussein has just not chosen to spend his money on that. Instead, he has chosen to spend his money on building weapons of mass destruction, and palaces for his cronies.”

- Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002, The Commonwealth Club, San Francisco

“Iraq’s search for weapons of mass destruction has proven impossible to deter and we should assume that it will continue for as long as Saddam is in power.”

- Sen. Ted Kennedy (D, MA), Sept. 27, 2002, Johns Hopkins University

“The last UN weapons inspectors left Iraq in October of 1998. We are confident that Saddam Hussein retains some stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons, and that he has since embarked on a crash course to build up his chemical and biological warfare capabilities. Intelligence reports indicate that he is seeking nuclear weapons…”

- Sen. Robert Byrd (D, WV; and K.K.K.), Oct. 3, 2002, U.S. Senate debate over going to war against Iraq.

“I will be voting to give the President of the United States the authority to use force– if necessary– to disarm Saddam Hussein because I believe that a deadly arsenal of weapons of mass destruction in his hands is a real and grave threat to our security.”

- Sen. John F. Kerry (D, MA), Oct. 9, 2002, U.S. Senate debate over going to war against Iraq.

“There is unmistakable evidence that Saddam Hussein is working aggressively to develop nuclear weapons and will likely have nuclear weapons within the next five years … We also should remember we have always underestimated the progress Saddam has made in development of weapons of mass destruction.”

“He has systematically violated, over the course of the past 11 years, every significant UN resolution that has demanded that he disarm and destroy his chemical and biological weapons, and any nuclear capacity. This he has refused to do”

“In the four years since the inspectors left, intelligence reports show that Saddam Hussein has worked to rebuild his chemical and biological weapons stock, his missile delivery capability, and his nuclear program. He has also given aid, comfort, and sanctuary to terrorists, including al Qaeda members. It is clear, however, that if left unchecked, Saddam Hussein will continue to increase his capacity to wage biological and chemical warfare, and will keep trying to develop nuclear weapons.“

- Sen. Hillary Clinton (D, NY), U.S. Senate debate over going to war against Iraq.

“Without question, we need to disarm Saddam Hussein. He is a brutal, murderous dictator, leading an oppressive regime He presents a particularly grievous threat because he is so consistently prone to miscalculation … And now he is miscalculating America’s response to his continued deceit and his consistent grasp for weapons of mass destruction So the threat of Saddam Hussein with weapons of mass destruction is real …”

- Sen. John F. Kerry (D, MA), Jan.23, 2003, Georgetown University.

“Without question, we need to disarm Saddam Hussein. He is a brutal, murderous dictator, leading an oppressive regime … He presents a particularly grievous threat because he is so consistently prone to miscalculation … And now he is miscalculating America’s response to his continued deceit and his consistent grasp for weapons of mass destruction … So the threat of Saddam Hussein with weapons of mass destruction is real…” - Sen. John F. Kerry (D, MA), Jan. 23. 2003 | Source “I will be voting to give the President of the United States the authority to use force — if necessary — to disarm Saddam Hussein because I believe that a deadly arsenal of weapons of mass destruction in his hands is a real and grave threat to our security.” - Sen. John F. Kerry (D, MA), Oct. 9, 2002 | Source “One way or the other, we are determined to deny Iraq the capacity to develop weapons of mass destruction and the missiles to deliver them. That is our bottom line.” - President Clinton, Feb. 4, 1998 | Source “If Saddam rejects peace and we have to use force, our purpose is clear. We want to seriously diminish the threat posed by Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction program.” - President Bill Clinton, Feb. 17, 1998 | Source “We must stop Saddam from ever again jeopardizing the stability and security of his neighbors with weapons of mass destruction.” - Madeline Albright, Feb 1, 1998 | Source “He will use those weapons of mass destruction again, as he has ten times since 1983.” - Sandy Berger, Clinton National Security Adviser, Feb, 18, 1998 | Source “[W]e urge you, after consulting with Congress, and consistent with the U.S. Constitution and laws, to take necessary actions (including, if appropriate, air and missile strikes on suspect Iraqi sites) to respond effectively to the threat posed by Iraq’s refusal to end its weapons of mass destruction programs.” Letter to President Clinton. - Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D, CA), Dec. 16, 1998 | Source “Hussein has … chosen to spend his money on building weapons of mass destruction and palaces for his cronies.” - Madeline Albright, Clinton Secretary of State, Nov. 10, 1999 | Source “We begin with the common belief that Saddam Hussein is a tyrant and a threat to the peace and stability of the region. He has ignored the mandate of the United Nations and is building weapons of mass destruction and th! e means of delivering them.” - Sen. Carl Levin (D, MI), Sept. 19, 2002 | Source “We know that he has stored secret supplies of biological and chemical weapons throughout his country.” - Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002 | Source “Iraq’s search for weapons of mass destruction has proven impossible to deter and we should assume that it will continue for as long as Saddam is in power.” - Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002 | Source“We have known for many years that Saddam Hussein is seeking and developing weapons of mass destruction.” - Sen. Ted Kennedy (D, MA), Sept. 27, 2002 | Source“The last UN weapons inspectors left Iraq in October of 1998. We are confident that Saddam Hussein retains some stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons, and that he has since embarked on a crash course to build up his chemical and biological warfare capabilities. Intelligence reports indicate that he is seeking nuclear weapons…” - Sen. Hillary Clinton (D, NY), Oct 10, 2002 | Source“We are in possession of what I think to be compelling evidence that Saddam Hussein has, and has had for a number of years, a developing capacity for the production and storage of weapons of mass destruction.”

Linda, I am getting pretty tired of hearing that women who don't support Obama are not 'thinking'. Some of us, no many of us, just don't trust him, don't believe his plans and programs are realistic, and it would not have mattered who his primary opponent was, we still would not jump on his wagon without due diligence. I for one will not be herded to be fearful of John McCain and his agenda. There will likely be a Democratic Congress to counter any unacceptable conservative push in his presidency. So let the election begin without name calling, stereotyping the still thinking mass of women and men. Let us do our job as responsible citizens

Linda, I am getting pretty tired of hearing that women who don't support Obama are not 'thinking'. Some of us, no many of us, just don't trust him, don't believe his plans and programs are realistic, and it would not have mattered who his primary opponent was, we still would not jump on his wagon without due diligence. I for one will not be herded to be fearful of John McCain and his agenda. There will likely be a Democratic Congress to counter any unacceptable conservative push in his presidency. So let the election begin without name calling, stereotyping the still thinking mass of women and men. Let us do our job as responsible citizens